Page 46 of Fighting for Her Heart

Wiggling out of the man sandwich, I slap his arm lightly, then go to the door.

“Sorry to interrupt.” Nora leans in close once I open it. “Sounds like you guys were having fun?”

My cheeks heat to a thousand degrees. Any claim I could make that we just woke up would be pointless. Ryker’s earlier question about our living arrangements becomes my own. As wonderful as these past weeks have been, we are five adults living in a small, two bedroom house, and one of the five is my mother. It’s the definition of awkward.

We do need to leave the property at some point.

Once we’re dressed, we all go into the kitchen and take seats around the table.

“Coffee, anyone?” Nora picks up the urn.

“No thanks,” I say and the men all shake their heads as Nora pours a mug for herself, adding a heaping teaspoon of sugar and large gulp of cream, just like she always did when I was a kid.

If the men and I leave here, I will miss her, but I’m sure we’ll visit. The idea of living somewhere with Axe, Ryker and Zuben—of the four of us making a home of our own—fills me with so much happy anticipation that it’s hard to stay still. I know that I’m getting ahead of myself, but a girl can dream.

“Evanora and I have been talking,” Zuben says, his hands flat on the table.

“Are you our new dad now?” Ryker smirks, and I kick him lightly under the table.

Zuben frowns, but doesn’t take Ryker’s bait. “As much protection as this property offers, we cannot all remain on this farm indefinitely.”

“Amen to that,” Ryker says and Axe nods.

“We were actually just talking about that too,” I add.

Zuben nods. “To this end, we must ensure that Ember will remain safe when she leaves this property.”

“What are you suggesting?” Axe folds his arms over his still bare chest.

“Before we risk Ember leaving this property, we must determine whether Ryker’s supposition is correct that keepers of light are still searching for Ember.”

“Octavia fuckingtoldme they are. There’s no supposition.”

“She confessed like a Bond villain,” I add.

“What’s a Bond villain?” Axe asks.

“I’ll tell you later.” I smile at him and he nods. Axe has a good excuse for not knowing many cultural references from the last seventy years, whereas Zuben…

“Ryker,” Nora sets her cerulean blue mug on the table. “Since you’re the one who knows Octavia best, Zuben and I were thinking thatyoushould approach her, find out whether anything has changed over the past weeks, and whether or not Ember is still in danger from those witches.”

“No.” I shake my head. “That’s too dangerous. No one leaves me. Not again.”

Ryker’s chest expands. “I’m not afraid of Tavi. Don’t worry about me, little dove. I’m willing to run into the city and have a quick chat with her. See where things sit.”

“I will go with Ryker,” Axe says, not a hint of question in his voice.

I turn quickly toward both of them, my heart thumping at triple its normal rate.

“Ember,” Axe says, clearly seeing the questions in my eyes. “You’re safe here on the property with Zuben and Nora. I should go with Ryker as back up. Make sure those witches don’t ambush him or something.”

“I was hoping you would say that.” Nora nods. “And I should go with you two as well.”

“Why?” My heart accelerates, absorbing the idea that three people I love might leave me at once, going into a dangerous situation even if it’s just for a day.

“If this Octavia person still has any of her magic,” Nora says, nodding toward me, “or if any witches are around her, then it’s best if we have the option to fight magic with magic.”

I inhale sharply. “How dangerous do you think this will be?”